Smart pillow to avoid neck pain

ABSTRACT

A smart pillow to avoid neck pain and pressure sores and promote healthy sleep includes a body, a processing unit, a plurality of pressure sensors, and a plurality of air bags. The pressure sensors and the air bags are mounted in the body. Each air bag includes a bi-directional valve. The pressure sensors can detect values of pressure on the body and thus the body of a user, and transmit the detected pressure values to the processing unit. The processing unit can control the bi-directional valves of the air bags in accordance with the received pressure values to adjust air amounts of each of the air bags by indrawing or releasing air. The smart pillow guides and supports a user&#39;s neck.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201610684323.6, filed Aug. 18, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to pillows, and more particularly to a smart pillow to avoid neck pain and pressure sores on the skin.

BACKGROUND

A pillow is used to support a user's head and neck while lying down or sitting. However, the user's neck may get strained because of poor posture or pressure sores can result from constant pressure on one spot of the neck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a smart pillow.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the smart pillow of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an air bag of the smart pillow of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a correspondence table stored in a body of the smart pillow of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the exemplary embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the exemplary embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.

The term “comprising” means “including but not limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary embodiment of a smart pillow (smart pillow 1) includes a body 11, a processing unit 12, a plurality of pressure sensors 13, and a plurality of air bags 14. The processing unit 12, the pressure sensors 13, and the air bags 14 are mounted in the body 11. The pressure sensors 13 can detect values of pressure on the body 11, and transmit the detected pressure values to the processing unit 12. With further reference to FIG. 3, each air bag 14 includes a bi-directional valve 141. The bi-directional valve 141 can adjust an intake air amount and an outlet air amount of the air bag 14. The processing unit 12 can receive and record the pressure values transmitted by the pressure sensors 13, and control the bi-directional valves 141 of the air bags 14 in accordance with the received pressure values to adjust the intake air amounts or the outlet air amounts of the air bags 14.

When a user uses the smart pillow 1, the processing unit 12 controls the bi-directional valves 141 of the air bags 14 to adjust volumes of each of the air bags 14 in the body 11. The smart pillow 1 guides and supports the user's neck to avoid neck pain due to poor posture and prevents a constant and excessive pressure at one location of the body.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the body 11 is made of a silicone material. The body 11 is U-shaped, and includes a head portion 101 and two neck portions 102 connected to opposite ends of the head portion 101. The head portion 101 can support the user's head, and the neck portions 102 can support the user's neck. The pressure sensors 13 include at least one first pressure sensor 131 and at least one second pressure sensor 132. The air bags 14 include at least one first air bag 1401 and at least one second air bag 1402. The first pressure sensor 131 and the first air bag 1401 are mounted in the head portion 101, and the second pressure sensor 132 and the second air bag 1402 are mounted in the neck portions 102. The processing unit 12 can receive a pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor 131, and control the bi-directional valve 141 of the first air bag 1401 to adjust an intake air amount or an outlet air amount of the first air bag 1401 in accordance with the pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor 131. The processing unit 12 can also receive a pressure value detected by the second pressure sensor 132, and control the bi-directional valve 141 of the second air bag 1402 in a similar manner.

With reference to FIG. 4, in the present exemplary embodiment, the body 11 stores a correspondence table 2. The correspondence table 2 defines a relationship between pressure value ranges of the body 11 and indrawn and released air amounts of each of the air bags 14. The processing unit 12 can receive the pressure values detected by the first and second pressure sensors 131 and 132, and make determinations based on the correspondence table 2. The processing unit 12 can then control the bi-directional valves 141 of the first and second air bags 1401 and 1402 accordingly, and adjust volumes of the first and second air bags 1401 and 1402.

With reference to FIG. 2, in the present exemplary embodiment, the smart pillow 1 further includes a temperature sensor 15 and a heating unit 16. The temperature sensor 15 can detect a temperature of the body 11, and transmit the detected temperature value to the processing unit 12. The heating unit 16 may be an infrared emitting device. The processing unit 12 can receive the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor 15, and control the heating unit 16 in accordance with the received temperature value to maintain the body 11 within a predefined temperature range. Therefore, the user's neck can be kept optimally warm, and blood circulation in the neck is promoted.

The smart pillow 1 further includes a music player unit 17. The processing unit 12 can receive the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 13, and determine whether or not the received pressure value is greater than a predefined pressure value. The processing unit 12 can control the music player unit 17 to start playing music when the received pressure value is greater than the predefined pressure value as a pacifier for the sleeping user.

The smart pillow 1 further includes a vibration sensor 18. The vibration sensor 18 can detect a number of breaths of the user and a time of each breath. The processing unit 12 can thus record the user's sleeping characteristics.

The exemplary embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a pillow. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A smart pillow comprising: a body; a processing unit; a plurality of pressure sensors mounted in the body; and a plurality of air bags mounted in the body, and each air bag comprising a bi-directional valve; wherein the pressure sensors are used to detect values of pressure on the body, and transmit the detected pressure values to the processing unit; and wherein the processing unit is used to receive the pressure values transmitted by the pressure sensors, and control the bi-directional valves of the air bags in accordance with the received pressure values to adjust an intake air amounts or an outlet air amounts of the air bags.
 2. The smart pillow of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a head portion and two neck portions connected to opposite ends of the head portion.
 3. The smart pillow of claim 2, wherein the pressure sensors comprise at least one first pressure sensor and at least one second pressure sensor; wherein the air bags comprise at least one first air bag and at least one second air bag; wherein the first pressure sensor and the first air bag are mounted in the head portion, and the second pressure sensor and the second air bag are mounted in the neck portion; wherein the processing unit is used to receive a pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor, and control the bi-directional valve of the first air bag in accordance with the pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor to adjust an intake air amount or an outlet air amount of the first air bag; and wherein the processing unit is used to receive a pressure value detected by the second pressure sensor, and control the bi-directional valve of the second air bag in accordance with the pressure value detected by the second pressure sensor to adjust an intake air amount or an outlet air amount of the second air bag.
 4. The smart pillow of claim 3, wherein the body is U-shaped.
 5. The smart pillow of claim 1, wherein the body is made of a silicone material.
 6. The smart pillow of claim 2, wherein the body is made of a silicone material.
 7. The smart pillow of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor and a heating unit; wherein the temperature sensor is used to detect a temperature of the body, and transmit the detected temperature value to the processing unit; and wherein the processing unit is used to receive the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor, and control the heating unit in accordance with the received temperature value to maintain the body within a predefined temperature range.
 8. The smart pillow of claim 2, further comprising a temperature sensor and a heating unit; wherein the temperature sensor is used to detect a temperature value of the body, and transmit the detected temperature value to the processing unit; and wherein the processing unit is used to receive the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor, and control the heating unit in accordance with the received temperature value to maintain the body within a predefined temperature range.
 9. The smart pillow of claim 3, further comprising a temperature sensor and a heating unit; wherein the temperature sensor is used to detect a temperature value of the body, and transmit the detected temperature value to the processing unit; and wherein the processing unit is used to receive the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor, and control the heating unit in accordance with the received temperature value to maintain the body within a predefined temperature range.
 10. The smart pillow of claim 4, further comprising a temperature sensor and a heating unit; wherein the temperature sensor is used to detect a temperature value of the body, and transmit the detected temperature value to the processing unit; and wherein the processing unit is used to receive the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor, and control the heating unit in accordance with the received temperature value to maintain the body within a predefined temperature range.
 11. The smart pillow of claim 5, further comprising a temperature sensor and a heating unit; wherein the temperature sensor is used to detect a temperature value of the body, and transmit the detected temperature value to the processing unit; and wherein the processing unit is used to receive the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor, and control the heating unit in accordance with the received temperature value to maintain the body within a predefined temperature range.
 12. The smart pillow of claim 6, further comprising a temperature sensor and a heating unit; wherein the temperature sensor is used to detect a temperature value of the body, and transmit the detected temperature value to the processing unit; and wherein the processing unit is used to receive the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor, and control the heating unit in accordance with the received temperature value to maintain the body within a predefined temperature range.
 13. The smart pillow of claim 7, wherein the heating unit is an infrared emitting device.
 14. The smart pillow of claim 8, wherein the heating unit is an infrared emitting device.
 15. The smart pillow of claim 9, wherein the heating unit is an infrared emitting device.
 16. The smart pillow of claim 10, wherein the heating unit is an infrared emitting device.
 17. The smart pillow of claim 11, wherein the heating unit is an infrared emitting device.
 18. The smart pillow of claim 1, further comprising a music player unit; wherein the processing unit is used to receive the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor, and determine whether or not the received pressure value is greater than a predefined pressure value; and wherein the processing unit is used to control the music player unit to start playing music when the received pressure value is greater than the predefined pressure value.
 19. The smart pillow of claim 1, further comprising a vibration sensor; wherein the vibration sensor is used to detect a number of breaths of a user and a time of each breath.
 20. The smart pillow of claim 19, wherein the processing unit is used to record signals detected by the pressure sensors and the vibration sensor. 